The Learning & Skills Council had an urgent need to train a large number of their learning providers to input information onto the National Learning Directory (NLD).  They were encountering problems with users who needed support to enable them to use the system properly. 

Their brief was to advise all new providers on how to put their information on the NLD and how to electronically upload their information.  They put their training request out to tender and after completing all the required information and checks Thales Training & Consultancy were awarded the contract.

The Learning & Skills Council needed the training to result in:
· All LSC funded providers being on the system
· All providers using Course Manager regularly for enquires and searches
· All providers regularly updating their information in Course Manager
· Improvements in the quality and currency of the information in the system

We immediately started working with the Learning & Skills Council to fully understand their training needs and objectives.  Our Account Manager oversaw the project and was the main point of contact for organising training dates.  Our Client Account Co-Ordinator handled the booking of all delegates liasing with both the Learning & Skills Council and SEEDA.  Our Trainer started work on fully understanding their database and the training requirements and liasing with their third party database design and maintenance company.  Course outlines were produced and agreed; dates for the first training sessions were setup and work began on production of course materials.

In all 17 sessions were run across our Basingstoke and Crawley training centres and at venues in Rochester and Bicester.

The sessions have proved very successfully and initial analysis has shown that they have resulted in:
· An additional 161 Providers adding their details onto the system
· An increase of 105% in Providers regularly updating their data on the system

Delegate feedback has included:

 “All objectives were met, trainer was fantastic!”

“Objectives met in full.  Thorough explanation and willingness to deal with questions.”

 “Can now apply amendments etc. to national database.  All objectives met.  The trainer was concise and knowledgeable.  Course very well presented.”

Stephanie Semmence the Partnership Relations and Information Advice & Guidance Manager at the Learning & Skills Council had this to say about the project:

“Thales have provided an excellent professional service that enabled us to move our strategic and operational objectives forward to a degree that we would have not otherwise been able to achieve.”